Collection Summary: An interview of Richard Reinhardt conducted 1990 July 5, by Richard Polsky, for the Archives of American Art Philadelphia Project. Reinhardt discusses his childhood in Philadelphia; his earliest art school classes, beginning at the age of ten; his studies at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art (now The University of the Arts); his military service including his first experience teaching mechanical drawing; returning to PMSIA after the war where he finished his degree while teaching, and his subsequent 41 years on the staff; studying with Virginia Cute, Margret Craver Withers and the Handy & Harman workshops; the curriculum at the PMSIA and the changes it underwent over the years; the development of the jewelry program with teachers Olaf Skoogfors, Robin Quigley and others; his move from jewelry into industrial design, furniture making and ultimately back to jewelry making; and exhibitions.

This interview is a part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.

Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.

How to Use this Interview

Transcript: microfilm reel 4778 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.

Transcript: Patrons must use microfilm copy.

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